Chapter 8: Born on the Same Day, Month, and Year

Family…

Alone in this unfamiliar world, Chen Ji could only cautiously explore it, sensing its mystery and danger.

Every step felt like walking on the edge of a cliff, always on the verge of falling into the abyss.

The word "family" had a unique appeal to him.

Chen Ji was very aware that the family he referred to was only the family of this body, while he was an intruder who had entered this world after the original owner's death.

But a hint of curiosity arose in his heart… What if his parents also came to this world after they passed away?

After the morning class, Chen Ji and his two fellow disciples squatted by the large water tank in the southeast corner of the courtyard to wash up.

He took a willow branch, pressed the inner wood into a brush-like shape, and awkwardly brushed his teeth, imitating his fellow disciples.

The tall and strong senior disciple, who had slept soundly the night before, squatted on the ground, grimacing: "Master is in a bad mood today. Don't provoke him, it hurts like hell. My father never hit me this hard!"

Chen Ji spat out the saltwater and tentatively suggested: "Maybe practicing this will help?"

Liu Quxing sneered: "What good does it do? We've been practicing for over a year, and nothing has changed. Do you feel anything?"

"No," Chen Ji shook his head, confirming that the warm current was only perceptible to him.

The tall and strong senior disciple, while brushing his teeth, asked: "Liu Quxing, will your mother bring those delicious fried cakes again when she comes?"

The thin Liu Quxing rolled his eyes and spat out the mouthwash: "Shea Dengke, stop thinking about the food my mother brings."

Shea Dengke was unhappy: "We're all fellow disciples. What's wrong with eating a little of your food?"

Chen Ji laughed: "Yeah, what's wrong with eating a little of your food?"

At that moment, Old Yao, holding a bamboo stick, came out of the main house: "You still have the nerve to joke around. Wait until I test your studies tomorrow and see if you can still laugh. Go to the main hall and study your books."

After washing up, the three disciples didn't even have breakfast. They sat on the threshold of the clinic, each holding a medical book and flipping through it.

Their minds were not on the books, but on waiting for their families to bring money and food, except for Chen Ji, who quietly read, as he had much to catch up on.

Shea Dengke said: "Master will test our knowledge tomorrow. Fellow disciples, we must share the good and the bad. No one is allowed to secretly review, understand?"

Liu Quxing's eyes darted around: "I haven't looked at the books recently, and I've forgotten what Master taught us before."

Shea Dengke sneered and clenched his fists: "You better be telling the truth!"

Liu Quxing shrank back: "Why don't you say something about Chen Ji? He got the fewest bamboo strokes this morning and is still reading!"

Shea Dengke closed Chen Ji's book: "No more reading. We'll all get beaten tomorrow. My father had someone calculate my fate; I can live to be over seventy. Master can't kill me!"

Chen Ji: "…Is your fate that strong?"

Time seemed to return to the harsh yet beautiful high school days, where they would go to class and leave together, sweat on the playground, and be scolded by teachers.

Chen Ji pondered, if his life in this world would be like this, could he accept it? It seemed he could.

Before long, Liu Quxing suddenly darted out to meet a middle-aged woman in a green robe.

The woman wore a silver hairpin and embroidered shoes, elegant and gentle, with a maid following behind her.

She smiled warmly when she saw Liu Quxing: "Xing'er, have you been causing Master any trouble lately?"

"No, no, Master likes me very much. How could I make him angry?" Liu Quxing handed her a bundle of clothes: "Mother, these are my dirty clothes. Please wash them when you get home."

Shea Dengke sneered from the threshold: "What a wimp, you're still having your mother wash your clothes!"

The woman took the clothes and handed Liu Quxing a wooden box and a cloth bundle from the maid: "The cloth bundle contains this month's tuition and clean clothes. The box has some pastries I made for you. Share them with your fellow disciples."

At that moment, Chen Ji clearly heard Shea Dengke swallow his saliva.

However, Liu Quxing didn't share the pastries. He opened the box and started eating the fried cakes and green bean pastries one by one.

Watching Liu Quxing eat for about fifteen minutes, he finally finished and handed the box back to the woman: "Mother, you can take the box back."

Chen Ji: Huh?

Shea Dengke muttered: "You…"

The mother and son talked for a while, and Liu Quxing returned happily, burping as he stepped over the threshold.

The streets gradually filled with people. Children played in the alleys, and women carried basins to the Luo River to wash clothes.

Some people drove ox carts eastward, the oxen swaying their tails and leaving droppings, filling the street with a grassy, earthy smell.

Chen Ji was immersed in the scene.

Shea Dengke and Chen Ji waited eagerly. By noon, a sturdy man arrived with a bundle.

The man, with tanned skin, wore a short robe and gray trousers, his sleeves rolled up to reveal twisted tattoos: "Little brother!"

"Third Brother!" Shea Dengke's eyes lit up.

The man laughed heartily: "I was helping out at the East Market this morning, so I'm a bit late. Here, this is the two strips of cured meat Mother prepared for you. One for Master, and one for you to keep."

"Where did the meat come from?!" Shea Dengke exclaimed in surprise.

"I and my eldest brother encountered a wild boar in the mountains a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was a male, so it has a bit of a gamey smell," Third Brother replied with a smile.

Shea Dengke beamed: "As long as there's meat, who cares about the smell!"

"Let's go. There's a grand banquet at the East Market tonight. I'll help set up the stage and get to watch a play," Third Brother said briskly, turning to leave without hesitation.

Shea Dengke hurried back to the clinic, and Liu Quxing, leaning against the door frame, said sarcastically: "I heard male wild boars have a strong urine smell…"

Chen Ji remarked: "Liu Brother, you're truly the moral low point of our clinic."

Shea Dengke glared at Liu Quxing: "Do you want me to break your front teeth?"

Liu Quxing shrank back and turned to Chen Ji: "It's already this late, your family probably won't come, right?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "I don't know."

Liu Quxing said smugly: "Maybe they don't want to pay your tuition. Two hundred coins a month is a lot for an average family. Or you could ask Master to be lenient."

Old Yao, standing behind the counter, counting the accounts, said slowly: "The law is not lightly transmitted, the way is not cheaply sold, the teacher does not travel the same path, and the doctor does not knock on the door. I only teach those who are sincere. If your family thinks two hundred coins are too much, you don't need to study here."

"I understand, Master," Chen Ji replied.

Shea Dengke scratched his head: "Master, we'll take care of you in your old age. Show us some affection."

Old Yao stroked his beard: "Even sons may not truly be filial to their own fathers. Can I rely on you? When you're old, you'll understand that money is the most important. Feelings change, and with money comes dignity. If your family pays the tuition, I'll teach you. We don't need too much teacher-student sentiment."

Chen Ji sat on the threshold from morning to noon, and from noon to evening.

Having returned to the clinic at the third watch of the night and been tormented by the cold stream until the fifth watch, Chen Ji was exhausted. He leaned against the door frame and fell asleep.

After some time, someone patted Chen Ji's shoulder, and he opened his tired eyes.

Shea Dengke, holding a bowl of food, said with his mouth full: "Chen Ji, why don't you go eat something? I'll keep an eye out for your family. I'll call you if they come."

Chen Ji didn't respond.

Across the street, the staff of the restaurant, pawnshop, and grocery store were closing up, securing the door panels for the night.

A staff member saw Chen Ji and greeted him with a smile: "Little Doctor Chen, waiting for someone?"

He smiled in response: "Yes."

However, Chen Ji's family never came. His real parents would never forget such an important appointment.

As the sun's rays gradually set in the west, the returning pedestrians became fewer, and the light on his face slowly faded until night fell.

Someone once said, never wake up at dusk.

At that moment, the distant bell and the world fell silent. The sun had passed the horizon, and the gray sky seemed especially distant, as if he were alone and far away.

He suddenly remembered that before the gears of fate began to turn, someone had asked him:

"Can you endure loneliness?"

Chen Ji had answered: "Yes."

…

…

…

The evening light fell and finally disappeared behind the staggered buildings.

Chen Ji sat on the threshold, watching the last shop across the street close its door and the last pedestrian return home. He then stood up, dusted off his clothes, and thought to himself:

Life must go on. Returning to reality, he needed to seriously consider his situation:

Old Yao, standing behind the counter, counting the accounts, looked up and said disdainfully: "What, your family doesn't want you anymore?"

Chen Ji thought his master's words were like poison. He smiled and replied: "Master, they might have been delayed. They'll bring the tuition tomorrow."

Old Yao sneered: "You've been here for two years. The other two families at least bring me something during the holidays, but your family has never brought anything. Even if you can pay the tuition on time, I don't want you as a disciple anymore."

"Give me a month. By then, maybe I can pay the tuition without relying on my family," Chen Ji said sincerely.

Old Yao shook his head: "Anyone can make empty promises."

Chen Ji thought for a moment: "The monthly tuition is two hundred coins. Give me a month, and I'll pay two hundred and forty coins each month afterward."

Old Yao pondered for a moment, took out some copper coins, and cast a divination. He then said calmly: "That shows some sincerity… but as a disciple who can't even collect a consultation fee, how will you earn money?"

"I'll find a way," Chen Ji said.

"Hah, big talk. You're just a disciple, you can't even take a pulse. How will you earn money?" Old Yao laughed mockingly, playing with the abacus beads.

Liu Quxing, watching from the side, said: "Chen Ji, let me help you."

"How do you plan to help?" Chen Ji asked.

"We take turns doing chores. Tomorrow, it's my turn to fetch water, sweep the courtyard, and clean the main hall. If you help clean the floor, I'll give you two coins; if you help sweep the courtyard, I'll give you one coin; if you help fill the water tank, I'll give you two coins. It's not much, but you'll have fifty coins a month."

The hierarchy among the disciples became clear.

Chen Ji: "Alright, I'll help Liu Brother."

Shea Dengke looked at Old Yao: "Master, is this appropriate?"

"As long as he can make up the tuition, it's appropriate," Old Yao said calmly.

Shea Dengke looked at Chen Ji: "Aren't you angry? Liu Quxing is treating you like a servant."

Chen Ji smiled: "Liu Brother is also helping me."

"What nonsense, Liu Brother? We were born on the same day, month, and year, even the same hour. Why should he be the senior disciple?" Shea Dengke said disdainfully.

Chen Ji was taken aback. Why did the doctor choose three disciples with the same birth date and time?

(End of Chapter)